A comparative study on efficacy and safety between rivaroxaban and low molecular weight heparin in prevention of deep vein thrombosis in elderly hip fracture patients

Objective To compare the safety and efficacy between rivaroxaban and low molecular weight heparin(LMWH)in preventing deep vein thrombosis(DVT)in elderly hip fracture patients.Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study in 702consecutive patients with hip fracture treated in our hospital between January 2010and December 2012.All the patients were divided into rivaroxaban group(155cases)and LMWH group(547cases)according to different DVT prevention.The incidences of venous thromboembolism(VTE)and bleeding were compared between the two groups.Results After one-month follow-up,VTE incidence in rivaroxaban group(3.2%,5/155)was significantly lower than that in LMWH group(8.8%,48/547,both P 0.05).The incidence of bleeding was 4.5%(7/155)in rivaroxaban group and 4.8%(26/547)in LMWH group. The major and minor bleeding events showed no significant differences between the two groups(P0.05). Although the mean blood loss during surgery in rivaroxaban group was significantly more than that in LMWH group(P0.01),there were no significant differences in the drainage or transfusion volume between two groups(both P0.05).Conclusion Compared with LMWH,Rivaroxaban can reduce the incidence of VTE without increasing bleeding in elderly hip fracture patients.Therefore,rivaroxaban can be used for preventing perioperative DVT in elderly patients with hip fractures.